Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Benares Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Benares

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 9.9% more expensive than Benares without rent, and 13.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 14.7% cheaper than Benares without rent, and 19.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Benares
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.8
$6.69 MUR 317
-69.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿594
$43.97 MUR 2,084
-57.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿239
$6.54 MUR 310
14.37%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.8
$2.64 MUR 125
-24.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.08
$1.03 MUR 49.03
-17.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.24
$0.60 MUR 28.23
-41.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.7
$2.06 MUR 97.5
7.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿120
$2.68 MUR 127
40.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Benares
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.9
$1.50 MUR 71.1
14.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.2
$0.69 MUR 32.77
136.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿37.04
$1.31 MUR 62.3
-11.45%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.3
$2.27 MUR 107
-12.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿509
$9.85 MUR 467
61.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿101
$6.01 MUR 285
-47.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿349
$10.25 MUR 486
6.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿84.6
$2.00 MUR 94.9
32.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.09
$1.91 MUR 90.7
-36.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿54.3
$1.44 MUR 68.4
18.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.8
$2.67 MUR 126
-40.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿42.33
$1.02 MUR 48.12
29.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.36
$1.02 MUR 48.13
14.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.67
$0.84 MUR 39.66
-19.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.81
$0.53 MUR 25.17
5.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿144
$6.18 MUR 293
-27.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿610
$8.57 MUR 406
122.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.6
$1.72 MUR 81.7
2.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿102
$2.11 MUR 100
50.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Benares
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.78
$1.04 MUR 49.39
-7.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿604
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿43.41
$4.45 MUR 211
-69.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.23
$2.66 MUR 126
-49.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿257
$15.18 MUR 719
-47.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.74
$1.41 MUR 66.9
-12.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿676.6K
$36.4K MUR 1.7M
-41.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿695.5K
$28.7K MUR 1.4M
-24.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Benares
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,277
$49.03 MUR 2,324
45.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿450
$18.52 MUR 878
-23.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿559
$32.42 MUR 1,536
-46.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Benares
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,345
$38.61 MUR 1,830
8.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿220
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿190
$6.15 MUR 291
-3.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Benares
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,827
$154 MUR 7,285
99.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿473.0K
$3,955 MUR 187.4K
274.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Benares
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,780
$51.4 MUR 2,436
8.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿856
$44.40 MUR 2,104
-39.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,661
$83.8 MUR 3,973
-0.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,241
$78.8 MUR 3,732
-10.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Benares
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
$517 MUR 24.5K
-17.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,580
$346 MUR 16.4K
-31.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.6K
$950 MUR 45.0K
-15.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿16.1K
$723 MUR 34.3K
-30.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿49.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Benares
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.25
-20.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Benares: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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